The Generation Study, which first launched in 2024, is aiming to screen 100,000 babies for more than 200 rare but treatable conditions.
More than 1,700 samples have already been collected from blood taken from the newborn’s umbilical cord shortly after birth.
The research hopes to identify rare conditions earlier, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment that could slow disease progression.
Expectant parents can speak with their midwife during pregnancy to learn more and decide if they would like to take part. Participation in the study is free and entirely optional.
The study, led by Genomics England, in partnership with NHS England, remains open for recruitment until the end of the year, aiming to screen up to 100,000 newborns in England for more than 200 rare but treatable conditions.
So far, the Trust has enrolled 2,440 babies into the study: 1,528 at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and 912 at West Middlesex University Hospital in Isleworth.
More than 1,721 samples have already been collected across the Trust from blood taken from the newborn’s umbilical cord shortly after birth.
The pioneering research aims to identify rare conditions earlier, enabling timely diagnosis and treatment that could slow disease progression or improve, and in some cases, extend a child’s life.
